RE: APC has no candidate in Imo North Senatorial Bye-election
RE: IMO NORTH SENATORIAL BYE-ELECTION
RE: DISQUALIFICATION OF MR FRANK IBEZIM
– APC HAS NO CANDIDATE
In a Court of Appeal ruling today, 4th December 2020, Sir Frank Ibezim was affirmed as the authentic Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Imo North Senatorial by- election and effectively ending the hopes of Senator Ifeanyi Ararume
The attention of the People’s Democratic Party, Imo State has also been drawn to another Judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja today, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo in SUIT NO FHC/ABJ/CS/1229/2020 between ASOMUGHA TONY ELEBEKE VS. FRANK IBEZIM and others wherein the Honourable Court held that Hon. Frank Ibezim who was the first candidate dully submitted by the National leadership of the All Progressive Congress APC was not qualified for the election
Following the disqualification of Mr. Frank Ibezim, by this judgment and the Appeal Court judgement against Ararume, it therefore follows that the APC has no Candidate for the Imo North Senatorial by-election.
The Peoples Democratic Party Imo State hereby calls upon the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to as a matter of urgency, disqualify the APC as a party from participating in tomorrow’s Imo North Senatorial bye-election as they have no candidate for the election.
The position of our Courts is very clear in a plethora of cases especially the recent case between DUOYE DIRI VS. DAVID LYON in the Bayelsa Gubernatorial election, that once a party submits the name of an unqualified candidate for elections, such party ceases to have a candidate for the elections. In the instant case where the Federal High Court has disqualified Mr Frank Ibezim on the grounds of fake or discrepancies in his personal records or credentials, the APC ceases to have a candidate for the Imo North Senatorial Bye-election.
Having fielded an unqualified candidate, the APC stands disqualified and cannot even amend or substitute its candidate having not been qualified ab initio as you can not place something on nothing and expect it to stand.
The Peoples Democratic Party therefore will resist any attempt to panel-beat an already void nomination via substitution or replacement.
Finally we urge the people of Okigwe Zone to flatly reject the confused APC party as they have no candidate for tomorrow’s election. Any vote for APC tomorrow is wasted vote.
The People’s Democratic Party, Imo State will stand with the good people of Okigwe zone as they go out to vote for the credible PDP Candidate, Chief Emma Okewulonu to represent them at the Senate come 5th December, 2020.
Long live the good people of Okigwe Zone
Long live Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State.
Hon. Nze Ray Emeana
State Secretary
